John Wort Hannam

Artist Information

Biography

2010 Canadian Folk Music Award Winner - Contemporary Album of the Year
2010 - Western Canadian Music Award Nominee
2010 - Juno Award Nominee - Roots & Traditional
2009 Grand Prize Winner - Calgary Folk Festival Songwriting Competition
2008 North American Folk Alliance Award Nominee
2007 Kerrville Folk Festival New Folk Winner
2007 Two-time Western Canadian Music Award Nominee
2007 Grand Prize Winner - Calgary Folk Festival Songwriting Competition
2006 Best Performance - Calgary Folk Festival Songwriting Competition
2006 Smithsonian Folkways Recording Artist
2005 Two-time Canadian Folk Music Award Nominee
2005 Western Canadian Music Award Nominee
2005 CBC Galaxie Rising Star Award Winner
2005 National Campus Radio Association Song Writing Competition Winner
2004 Grand Prize - Calgary Folk Festival Song Writing Competition

John Wort Hannam comes from of a long line of people who make a living using their hands. His great-great grandfather drove horse and buggy for the village doctor. His great-grandfather was a stevedore, his grandfather, a farmer and his father still works as a master carpenter. For five years John Wort Hannam taught grade 9 language arts on the largest reservation in Canada – The Kainai Nation, part of the Blackfoot Tribe. But in 1997 he heard a Loudon Wainwright III record and was hooked by the music and stories. In 1998 he bought a guitar and learnt some chords. In 2002 he quit teaching and began to pursue the dream of being a working musician. Wort Hannam now carries on the family tradition, making his living with his hands, writing and playing music.
He independently released his debut CD “pocket full of holes” in 2002 and his 2nd CD “Dynamite and ‘Dozers” in 2004. His third CD “Two-Bit Suit” was released by Black Hen Music in the spring of 2007. In November of 2009 John released "Queen's Hotel".
Thriving on live performance, John Wort Hannam is truly happy when he is on the road playing and connecting personally with an audience. He tours extensively in Canada and the US. His many appearances have included a 2009 Mainstage performance at the Kerrville Folk Festival, a 2008 performance at Trafalgar Square and the 2006 Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington DC in conjunction to one of John's songs, “Church of the Long Grass” appearing on the prestigious Folkways recording label.
He tours actively as a solo, duo, trio, and at times as a four piece band with John on guitar, tenor guitar, and harmonica and his “guys” Tyler Bird on upright bass (he's also been known to sling an accordion in the van), Scott Duncan on fiddle, and Brad Brouwer on percussion.




FESTIVALS

Kerrville Folk Festival (TX)
Edmonton Folk Music Festival (AB)
Calgary Folk Festival (AB)
Canmore Folk Festival (AB)
North Country Fair (AB)
South Country Fair (AB)
Mariposa Folk Festival (ON)
Stan Rogers Folk Festival (NS)
Smithsonian Folk Ways Festival (Washington DC)
Islands Folk Fest (BC)
Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival (NS)
Summerfolk (ON)
Shelter Valley Folk Festival (ON)
Prince George Folk Fest (BC)
Toronto City Roots Festival (ON)
East Coulee Spring Folk Festival (AB)
Alberta Songwriter’s Sessions (AB)


FOLK CLUBS/CONCERT SERIES/THEATRES

Forestburg Concert Series (AB)
Bulkley Valley Folk Music Society (BC)
Kitimat Performing Arts (BC)
Prince Rupert Concert Society (BC)
Houston Concert Association (BC)
Rosebud Folk Club (AB)
Broadway Theatre, Saskatoon (SK)
Empress Theatre, Fort Macleod (AB)
Ann Portnuff Theatre, Yorkton (SK)
Festival Place, Sherwood Park (AB)
Nancy Appleby Theatre, Athabasca (AB)
Engineered Air Theatre, Calgary (AB)
Northern Alberta Jubilee, Edmonton (AB)
Athabasca Hall, Peace River (AB)
Rasputin's, Ottawa (ON)
Okotoks Cultural Centre (AB)
Beneath the Arch Concert Series, Turner Valley (AB)
Hillhurst Sunnyside Concert Series, Calgary (AB)
Benders Concert Series, Swift Current (SK)
Mill Bay Folk Club, Mill Bay (BC)
Calgary Folk Club (AB)
Cowichan Folk Guild, Duncan (BC)
Nickelodeon Folk Club, Calgary (AB)
Lethbridge Folk Club (AB)
Gabriola Folk Club (BC)
Bragg Creek Performing Arts (AB)
Mayne Island Folk Club (BC)
Stettler Variety Showcase (AB)
Victoria Folk Society, Victoria (BC)
Edson Chatauqua Arts Council (AB)
Heartwood Folk Club, Athabasca (AB)
Northern Lights Folk Club, Edmonton (AB)
Barrhead Arts Council (AB)
Kinosoo Performing Arts Society - Cold Lake (AB)
Vermilion Folk Club, Vermilion (AB)
Newell Concert Association, Brooks (AB)
Medicine Hat Folk Club (AB)
Cowichan Folk Guild (BC)
Horizon Stage Concert Series (AB)
Amherst Island Music Series (ON)
Central Alberta Theatre, Red Deer (AB)

SHOWCASES

Folk Alliance Region West (Portland) Official Showcase
Folk Alliance Canada (London) Official Showcase
SouthWest Region Folk Alliance (Austin) Official Showcase
Folk Alliance Midwest (Chicago) Official Showcase
North American Folk Alliance, (Memphis, TN)
North American Folk Alliance, (Austin, TX)
SXSW
Western Canadian Music Festival (AB)
North American Folk Alliance (Montreal)
Folk Alliance Canada - RendezvousFolk (BC)
Alberta Showcase
Ontario Contact
Folk Alliance Canada, (Nashville, TN)
Manitoba Contact
Junofest
Saskatchewan Showcase of the Arts
Pacific Contact (BC)

SONGWRITING WORKSHOPS AND INSTRUCTION

Young Author’s Conference (AB)
AFA Alberta Centennial Songwriting Project
Hudson Hope Arts Council Songwriting



BOOKINGS (CANADA)

Debbie Peters
Magnum Opus Management
79 Ponderosa Drive
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada, Y1A 5C5
Phone: (867) 633-2800
Fax: (867) 668-7854

BOOKINGS (US)

Cathy Woolsey
TSC Booking
TSC Booking
8625 - 70th Ave,
Vero Beach, FL 32967
Email: Booking@TSCbooking.com

Website: www.tscbooking.com
Tel: 772-528-1534



LABEL (CANADA)

Alice Dawson
Black Hen Music

Box 74661
Kitsilano
Vancouver, BC
Canada V6K 4P4

Email: info@blackhenmusic.com
Website: www.blackhenmusic.com

Tel: 604-224-5717



PUBLICITY

Ken Beattie
Killbeat Music

P.O. Box 2136
Station Main
Vancouver, BC
V6B 1T6

Email: kb@killbeatmusic.com
Website: www.killbeatmusic.com

Tel: 604-683-2124



JOHN WORT HANNAM (CANADA)

Box 1904
Fort Macleod, AB
Canada, T0L 0Z0

Email: johnworthannam@telus.net
Website: www.johnworthannam.com

Instrumentation

John Wort Hannam - Lead Vocals, Guitar, Tenor guitar, Harmonica

Tyler Bird - Upright Bass, Accordion, Backing Vocals

Scott Duncan - Fiddle

Brad Brouwer - Percussion, Backing Vocals

Discography

2009 - "Queen's Hotel" - full length CD - produced by Steve Dawson - Label: Black Hen Music, Distributor in Canada: Fontana North, Distributor in UK and Europe: ROUNDER

2007 - "Two-Bit Suit" - full length CD - produced by Steve Dawson - Label: Black Hen Music, Distributor in Canada: Fontana North, Distributor in UK and Europe: ROUNDER

2004 - "Dynamite and 'Dozers" - full length CD - produced by Barry Allen and John Wort Hannam - independent release

2002 - "pocket full of holes" - full length CD - Produced by Barry Allen and John Wort Hannam - independent release

2000 - "ROUGH CUTS" EP - produced by John Wort Hannam



COMPILATIONS

2006 - Smithsonian Folkways Collection "Alberta - Wild Roses and Northern Lights" produced by the Smithsonian Institution

2006 - "For the Sake of the Song" - 2 CD compilation of international artists produced by the International Folk Alliance

2005 - "GROW UP! - Hold Your Ground IV" - 16 Song compilation of Alberta artists produced by The Activist Network

2005 - "Dig Your Roots" - 15 Song compilation of Canadian artists produced by national Campus Radio Association

2005 - "Alberta.cow" - 15 Song compilation of Alberta artists produced by Alberta.cow

2004 - "Made in Alberta" - 14 Song compilation of Alberta artists produced by The Alberta Foundation for the Arts

Links

• John Wort Hannam Music on FaceBook
• MySpace
• John Wort Hannam on CD Baby

Audio

• With The Grain (2009)
  Listen  
• Requiem For A Small Town (2009)
  Listen  
• Come Back To Me (2009)
  Listen  
• Lucky Strikes (2009)
  Listen  
• Two-Bit Suit (2007)
  Listen  
• Worth A Damn (2009)
  Listen  
• Church of the Long Grass (2009)
  Listen  
• Infantryman (Live in Concert)
  Listen  
• Sweet Sweet Rose (With Calgary Philharmonic)
  Listen  
• 10,000 Acres (2007)
  Listen  
• Tonight We Strike (2009)
  Listen  
• National Hotel (Live in Concert)
  Listen  
• Wrecking Ball (2007)
  Listen  
• Damn It Gwenivere (Live in Concert)
  Listen  
• Dover (2007)
  Listen  
• 3 Cylinders (SOLO - Live on CIUT)
  Listen  

Lyrics

• With The Grain
• Two-Bit Suit
• Sweet Sweet Rose
• Damn It Gwenivere
• Infantry Man
• Digger's Lament
• Wrecking Ball
• 3 Cylinders
• Annabelle
• Dickson's Slough
• Blue Collar
• The Ballad of Nellie and Joe
• Dynamite and 'Dozers
• Church of the Long Grass

Video

Lucky Strikes at the Esplanade Theatre

Photo Gallery

Press

• Calgary Folk Music Festival [+ Show ]
  

  In my over 25 years in the music business in Canada, it is a distinct and rare pleasure to come acro...In my over 25 years in the music business in Canada, it is a distinct and rare pleasure to come across a performer like John.
  
  That said - more than anything - John Wort Hannam delivers the goods in front of an audience. Having seen John perform many times in many venues and situations, from professional conferences to outdoor family shows, I can only say he came away with fans in any situation he found himself in.
  
  From his songs to his stage presence, John is the complete package

• CD Of The Week [+ Show ]
  

  The songs on Two-Bit Suit are stitched from the same fabric as the likes of Stan Rogers, James Keel... The songs on Two-Bit Suit are stitched from the same fabric as the likes of Stan Rogers, James Keelaghan, and Gordon Lightfoot. There are many touch points that shine on this his third release from the emotionally charged "Infantry Man," the frolic of the "Two-Bit Suit," and the reflectively poignant "Wrecking Ball." The songs on Two-Bit Suit (produced by Steve Dawson) grab you on all levels, his sense of melody locks you in and the chorus draws you deep into the song, and then you fall hard for his timeless tales.
  
  It’s really all very simple, Fort McLeod's John Wort Hannam is one of the finest folk songwriters anywhere. At times his lyric dig so deep it's difficult not to identify with these personal stories and with images so vivid, he seems to be creating miniature motion pictures. From a shuffle rhythm to a soulful ballad, this is folk at it's best.
  
  
  

• Reference Letter for John Wort Hannam [+ Show ]
  

  To whom it may concern Letter of reference for John Wort Hannam It is a pleasure for me to write...To whom it may concern
  Letter of reference for John Wort Hannam
  
  It is a pleasure for me to write this letter of reference for John. We had John perform at our centre in concert. I’d like to tell you about some of the comments on the show, but I’d first like to share some things that happened “behind the scenes” that are very important to me as director of the facility.
  I was impressed at how John handled the business end of our relationship.
  
  -Our contract was quickly signed and returned and items for promotion such as CD’s, bio’s, etc were all sent to us quickly so that we could produce our season ticket promotion material.
  
  -Within a month of the show John contacted us to go over details and ask us if there were other things he could do to help us promote the show.
  
  -He made himself available for our local radio station for promotion.
  -He and his band arrived early for sound check and were great to deal with. Our soundman made a comment to me that if every group were like this, his job would be “a piece of cake”
  
  -As we were all having supper in the green room I found his entire group to be genuine, friendly and professional
  
  No matter what I may personally feel about a performer, the audience is the final judge. I can tell you that we’ve received such great comments on how much our audience enjoyed him! His songwriting skills bring stories to life in a way we can all relate to. He established great rapport with the audience through his stories, jokes and even getting them to sing along on some songs. There’s something very genuine about John and he gets it across to his audience. This was one of the stronger concerts that we’ve presented over the years.
  
  We look forward to having John back in a few years to perform here again and would highly recommend him to any performance venue.
  
  Respectfully,
  Jerry Maksymyk
  Executive Director
  The William Glesby Centre

• Hannam a Born Storyteller [+ Show ]
  

  John Wort Hannam is a born storyteller with a keen eye for the quirky and amusing....A humble and en...John Wort Hannam is a born storyteller with a keen eye for the quirky and amusing....A humble and engaging performer.....

• Edmonton Folk Music Festival [+ Show ]
  

  John Wort Hannam is among the finest artists in the Alberta songwriting scene. His performances at t...John Wort Hannam is among the finest artists in the Alberta songwriting scene. His performances at the 2005 Edmonton Folk Music Festival won praise from critics and patrons alike and I can highly recommend him for his work and professionalism.
  
  

• Running With The Big Dogs - John Wort Hannam competing with Bryan Adams and Ian Tyson for Songwriting Award [+ Show ]
  

  John Wort Hannam's star is rising and later this month in Vancouver, the southern Alberta troubadour...John Wort Hannam's star is rising and later this month in Vancouver, the southern Alberta troubadour will see just how bright.
  
  Wort Hannam is nominated for Songwriter Of The Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards

• Dynamite and 'Doozies [+ Show ]
  

  “He has a Gordon Lightfoot-like skill at penning songs with easy harmonies and melodies baked from t...“He has a Gordon Lightfoot-like skill at penning songs with easy harmonies and melodies baked from the midday prairie sun, which are then - in his warm , earnest voice - seasoned with the salt of the earth, their stories, their lives, their surroundings.” An excellent Alberta album from an excellent Alberta artist. 4 1/2 Stars outta 5

• Hannam Headlines Homeless Fundraiser - Rising Roots Musician Nominated for Two Canadian Folk Music Awards [+ Show ]
  

  Hannam continues to see his star rise. After making a favourable impression at the recent Ontario C...Hannam continues to see his star rise. After making a favourable impression at the recent Ontario Council of Folk Festivals without even having a showcase, he received two nominations for Best Contemporary Vocalist and Best Emerging Artist at the Canadian Folk Music Awrds

• Prince George Folk Festival [+ Show ]
  

  “John’s music was great and he won his audience over from song one. His voice is a constant strong p...“John’s music was great and he won his audience over from song one. His voice is a constant strong presence demanding attention to lyrics. He has that enviable ability of being able to write a polished song, striking in its apparent simplicity but difficult for most singer songwriters to aspire to.”

• Calgary Folk Club [+ Show ]
  

  "John Wort Hannam took the stage, and in short work took the audience as well. Poetic lyrics that cr..."John Wort Hannam took the stage, and in short work took the audience as well. Poetic lyrics that create stories behind the songs, along with a warm and embracing voice, John wins over the "everyman" in all of us. It won't be long until he's invited back!"

Setlist

Typically 2 x 45 minute sets

All original songs chosen from four commercially released CD's plus new songs soon to be recorded. They include:

10,000 Acres
Two-Bit Suit
Sweet Sweet Rose
Damn It Gwenivere
Infantryman
Digger's Lament
Black As Coal
National Hotel
At First Light
Dover
Wrecking Ball
Blue Collar
Church of the Long Grass
Dynamite and 'Dozers
Above Ground
3 Cylinders
Annabelle
Eddy Fitzgerald
50 Miles
Dickson's Slough
The Ballad of Nellie and Joe
Gypsies Grove
Cracked Hands
Scotsman's Bluff
Sons of the Soil
Late November
That Boy
Seafaring Man
Wheatland
Dammed Rivers
Buy Another Round
Pier 21
Fisherman's Son
We're Gettin' By
Lucy
6 Months on the Road
Martha

Basic Requirements

Calendar